On September 6, 1886, John S. Collins acquired land in Merchantville from Senator Alexander G. Cattell. Collins was a founder and developer of Miami Beach and Collins Avenue, there, bears his name. In 1887, carpenters built a lumber yard complex on this site. Fire, in 1892, destroyed the existing main structure. This large hall building with a Queen Anne façade and overtones of Germanic Victorian brickwork was erected in 1893. It was in a prominent location, where Centre Street was crossed by the tracks of the railroad. The first floor housed the building supply company owned by John S. Collins, coal and lumber merchant, Quaker developer and visionary, and his son-in-law, Thomas J. Pancoast. There was a railroad siding, south of the Hall, with auxiliary shops in the rear. On the Chestnut Avenue side, the Post Office (1900 to 1909) served residents. The developers designed the building to provide spaces for the growing cultural and social undertakings, including the handsome first public auditorium on the second floor and a third floor Masonic meeting room that served that organization from 1893 until 1965. St. Agnes Guild of Grace Episcopal Church gave the premier performance. In 1912, Collins and Pancoast became J. S. Collins & Sons and offered a complete line of lumber, hardware, paints and garden supplies. The Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission had its beginnings when a group of citizens met here to discuss the water famine of 1909. The Playcrafters found a home in the building in 1937 and remained there until 1976. Dancing classes for young girls and boys were conducted in the auditorium. The public has enjoyed eateries such as Craig’s Ice Cream Parlor (late 1970s), Tavern on the Square (opened March 1998), The Collins House (2004) and The Blue Monkey (2008). Thus, this building was an architecturally imposing commercial structure that caps the most active generation of Merchantville's growth, representing the maturing of the community as it evolved towards one that sustained the arts and was unified by various social and fraternal organizations. On February 16, 1984, it was entered onto the National Register of Historic Places.

Please be advised that beginning Tuesday, May 29th, Borough Hall will be on the follow summer hours schedule: Monday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm; Tuesday, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm; Wednesday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm; Thursday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm; and Friday, 8:00 am - 12:30 pm

Merchantville School has an open seat on the Board of Education. This is an immediate opening until December 2018. Interested Merchantville Borough residents who meet the following requirements should send a letter of interest by Tuesday, June 19, 2018 to Greg Gontowski, Board Secretary, Merchantville Board of Education, 130 S. Centre Street, Merchantville, NJ 08109. Requirements: To become a member of a local board of education in New Jersey, you must: Be able to read and write; Hold U.S. citizenship; Prove/document one year’s residency in the Merchantville School District; Have no interest in any contract with, or claim against, the board; Not hold office as mayor or member of the municipal governing body; Be registered to vote in Merchantville and not be disqualified as a voter under N.J.S.A. 19:4-1. The Board of Education will review the letters of all interested Merchantville residents meeting the qualification for Board membership. The Merchantville Board of Education selects the person to fill any vacated seats. Greg Gontowski Business Administrator/Board Secretary

With Round One of the first People’s Choice Contest concluded, we are excited to kick-off Round Two. Your votes helped decided the winners from each town and now they’ll compete to be the best of the best. Round Two—the Best of the Classic Towns—begins on May 8th and continues to May 22nd. Be sure to vote for your favorites in each category to see them become the winners of the first annual People’s Choice. Remember to tag @Classictowns on social media to spread the love for your local favorites and use the hashtag #Classictownspeopleschoice. Vote everyday to ensure your picks win! Follow this link to vote.

Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 28th at 10:00AM. in Wellwood Park at Linden and Maple Avenues. Borough Hall will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. The public is invited to join Merchantville American Legion Post #68 for our annual Memorial Day program in Wellwood Park (Maple and Linden Avenues) at 10am. Come out and join us a we remember our fallen and look at the true meaning of the holiday. Light refreshments will be served following our service. The Merchantville Community Center will host this event should we have inclement weather.